Traditional Lens Commentary: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Traditional Lens Reading of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Tradition-Specific Interpretation

We read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 as a profound exposition of Christian love, rooted in the character of God and revealed through the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Paul, speaking under divine inspiration, communicates that love is an essential fruit of the Spirit and a defining mark of true faith. This passage is understood through the lens of sanctification, as it describes the attributes that the Holy Spirit cultivates in believers. Love is not merely an emotion but a Christ-centered commitment that reflects God's love for us, demonstrated supremely in the substitutionary atonement of Christ on the cross.

Key Language Decisions

The original Greek words used in this passage, such as 'agape' for love, carry a deep semantic range that emphasizes self-sacrificial, unconditional love. This tradition emphasizes 'agape' as the highest form of love, distinct from 'philia' (brotherly love) or 'eros' (romantic love), underscoring its divine origin and eternal nature. The verbs describing love's actions in verses 4-7 are all in the present tense, indicating ongoing, habitual actions that define a life lived in Christ.

Where Traditions Diverge

While Roman Catholicism might emphasize love as a virtue that contributes to one's justification, we maintain that love is the evidence of faith and sanctification, not a means of earning righteousness. Liberal theological traditions may interpret these verses as a call to social justice detached from the gospel's core message of redemption through Christ's atoning work. We hold that true love is grounded in the gospel and cannot be fully understood apart from the cross.

Pastoral Application

In preaching this passage, we should exhort believers to embody the love of Christ in all relationships, highlighting that this love is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. Our congregations should be challenged to see love as an active commitment, not just a feeling, and to understand it as evidence of being born again. The cross should be central in our application, reminding believers that the love we are called to reflect is the same love that sent Christ to the cross to bear our sins. A Traditional Lens congregation expects to hear that our ability to love this way is a gift of grace, empowered by the Spirit, and rooted in our new identity in Christ.

Cross-References: John 13:34-35; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 John 4:7-12; Romans 5:5; Philippians 2:1-4

Doctrinal Connections: sanctification; the fruit of the Spirit; regeneration; the character of God; the love of God in Christ; Christian ethics